Owen Hargreaves expects his #17m move to Manchester United to be completed by the end of the week.

Bayern Munich have already confirmed Hargreaves is leaving the Allianz Arena and while the Red Devils have refused to make any comment on the issue, it is inconceivable the 26-year-old will not become Sir Alex Ferguson’s first summer signing.

Although Hargreaves is due to feature for England B against Albania at Burnley on Friday, there is now some speculation Steve McClaren has said he does not need to see the midfielder in action prior to next week’s friendly with Brazil and the key Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia that follows on June 6.

Such a move would leave Hargreaves free to complete the final stages of his United move and the player confirmed further details should be known by the end of the week.

“It has been one of the longest transfer sagas,” he said.

“I am sure this week we’ll hear some new information.”

With Ferguson due to watch the Champions League final in Athens and chief executive David Gill heading out to Malaysia in an attempt to smooth the anger which erupted over United’s impending summer tour, the deal may not actually be concluded until the end of the week.

However, having identified Hargreaves as one of the men to take the Red Devils forward following their Premiership title triumph this term, Ferguson will eventually tie up the Calgary-born player on a four or five-year contract.

Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe has identified Bryan Robson and Brian Kidd as the dream team that can propel the Blades back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

The two men were today set to be confirmed as the new management duo at a press conference. United have moved quickly to replace Neil Warnock, who quit last week after the team were relegated from the Premiership on the final day of the season following a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan.

McCabe said: “I believe the combination of great managerial experience and one of the best, top-class coaches - I think David Beckham said Brian Kidd was the best coach he had worked with - will help us return to the Premiership.”

Former West Brom and Boro manager Robson has indicated it is a job he would relish with Kidd moving up from coach to assistant manager. Robson left Albion by mutual consent last September after 22 months in charge.

Working on a 12-month rolling contract, he paid the price for disappointing results since early in the New Year.

Albion were relegated from the top flight after failing to win any of their final 13 games of the season and a 1-1 draw against Southend ended his tenure.

Under Robson’s successor, Tony Mowbray, they now have secured a place in the play-off finals against Derby.

McCabe also revealed his belief Warnock had fallen short as the Blades just failed to retain their Premiership status.

When asked if he felt the club and Warnock could have benefited from an earlier parting of the ways, McCabe added: “Hindsight is a great thing.

“Neil Warnock is a great motivator. We can reflect now maybe Neil Warnock wasn’t quite right for our Premiership ambitions. But he gave it his all.

“The time had come for a change and now we are going to effect that.”

When asked if he believed bad decisions were made last season, McCabe added: “Everyone is a manager....but I believe we should have got more points, yes.”